HARRISBURG – Sixteen suspected cocaine dealers have been charged with participating in a drug trafficking ring that operated between Harrisburg and Reading.
Attorney General Linda Kelly said the charges are the result of a nearly two-year investigation that focused on the distribution of cocaine in Reading, Berks County by Fernando Rios. Agents learned of Rios drug activity in the Reading area through the cocaine trafficking activities of Efren Santos-Cruz of Harrisburg, Dauphin County.
Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged illegal activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed.
According to the grand jury, agents arranged a series of 12 controlled purchases from Santos-Cruz for approximately two ounces of cocaine. Santos-Cruz allegedly always made contact with Rios via pre-paid cellular telephone prior to the purchases, specifically in the form of coded text messages.
As the investigation unfolded, court authorized wire taps were approved in February 2011 to determine the scope of the organization and help identify suppliers.
The grand jury found that Rios and his main associate Angel Navedo both had control of the cellular phones allegedly used to conduct their drug trafficking and regularly delivered enough cocaine to suppliers for re-distribution in Berks and Dauphin counties.
Kelly said that from February 2011 to the beginning of April 2011 agents estimate that the organization distributed at least 1,100 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $500,000.
The grand jury identified Rios, Navedo and Santos-Cruz?s customers as: Luis Velazquez Jr., Albert Dunn, Edgar Rios, James Bartley, Anthony Noel, Ever Feliciano, and Thomas Perez.
Kelly said that in April 2011 Santos-Cruz supplied an undercover agent with cocaine from a new source, Jose Maldonado-Davila of Reading.
Over the course of the investigation agents seized over 1,100 grams of cocaine, a kilogram press, 81 Oxycodone pills, nine guns, and approximately $16,000.
Kelly thanked the Reading City Police Department, the Berks County Detectives, The Berks County District Attorney’s Office, Harrisburg City Police Department, Berks County Sheriff’s Department, Berks County Probation, and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Kelly noted that this is an ongoing investigation.
Below is a complete list of the defendants and the charges against them.
–Efren Santos-Cruz, 30, 2560 Brookwood St., Apt C2, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, is charged with two counts of delivery of cocaine, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine.
–Fernando Rios, 29, 729 North Front St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of persons not to possess a firearm, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Angel Navedo, 26, 731 North Front St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of persons not to possess a firearm, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Jose Maldonado-Davila, 30, 517 Locust St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with two counts of delivery of cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine.
–Thomas Perez, 30, 205 Greenwich St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, two counts of delivery of cocaine, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Victoria Rios, 37, 625 South 10th St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver oxycodone, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver oxycodone.
–Ever Feliciano Jr., 24, 222 Greenwich St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Edgar Rios, 42, 625 South 10th St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver oxycodone.
–Albert Dunn Jr., 26, 440 Lehigh St., Apt 2, Reading, Berks County, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Jennifer Oquendo, 22, 904 Douglas St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Shanisha Dunn, 23, 440 Lehigh St., Apt 2, Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–James Bartley Jr., 38, 137 North Front St., 2nd Floor Apt., Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Anthony Noel, 25, 241 S. 12th St., Reading and 735 Pear St., Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Gabriel Pagan, Age Unknown, 132 Greenwich St., 1st Floor Apt. Rear, Reading, Berks County is charged with one count of delivery of cocaine and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine.
–Luis Velazquez Jr., 29, 206 South Third St., First Floor Front, Reading, Berks County, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of persons not to possess a firearm, one count prohibitive offensive weapon, one count of criminal use of a communications facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine.
–Luis Rivera-Davilla, 35, 335 W. Green St. 4, and 117 Hancock Blvd., Reading, Berks County, is charged with one count of delivery of cocaine and criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine.